Catechresis
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Catechresis
cat·a·chre·sis noun \ˌka-tə-ˈkrē-səs\ plural cat·a·chre·ses
Definition
1: use of the wrong word for the context
2: use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech (as blind mouths) [1]
Common Forms of Catachresis are:
- Using a word out of context. "Can't you hear that? Are you blind?"
- Using paradoxes or contradictions. "Darkness visible" (John Milton, Paradise Lost)
- Creating an illogical mixed metaphor. "To take arms against a sea of troubles..." (Shakespeare, Hamlet)
- Misuse of a word out of a misunderstanding of its meaning. "The runner literally flew down the track."[2]
Class Examples:
1) To peacefully study
2) "Listen...do you smell something?" -Ghostbusters
3) "Honey, you are a regular nuclear meltdown. You'd better cool off." -Bull Durham
4) "The President's decision yesterday, to set into motion the development of the hydrogen bomb, has placed us on a knife edge of history." -Henry M. Jackson
5) "Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse." -Shakespeare, Timon of Athens
6) "Blind mouths!" -Milton, Lycidas
7) The sight of her voice was amazing.
Some Facts About Catechresises
- It is common in literature where it may be used for alarming effect, for example 'I will speak daggers to her' - Hamlet.
- Catachresis is related to Malapropism, where a word that sounds similar is used (often with comic effect).
- Catachresis comes from the Greek word meaning 'the wrong use of a word'.
- The Latin name for catachresis is Abusio.
- Classification: Distortion [3]
- This word was used in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals. [4]
Poster
References
Primary Editor: Andrew Daraban; Secondary Editors: Chelsea Schmitt, Kristin Jatkowski; Poster: Anthony Zick, Gabe Green
